The Alan Clark Diaries

I have no idea what reception The Alan Clark Diaries had in Britain, but I assume it did not have a major impact beyond its borders, and that for several reasons: firstly, it tries to follow in the footsteps of the series Yes, Minister. The producers obviously expected this. The problem is that the group around Minister Hacker set the bar too high and rightfully became a cult series on a level that the creators of The Alan Clark Diaries could not reach, no matter how hard they tried. Secondly, The Alan Clark Diaries is filled with characters and names that mean nothing outside of Britain and to those who are not familiar with British politics. Where Yes, Minister generalized and each episode has a specific point, The Alan Clark Diaries is limited by the framework of memoirs and specific events. Finally, although John Hurt is a good actor, he does not have as excellent of co-stars as Hacker had on his team. It's not bad at all, but most of the bizarre situations and lines will be enjoyed only by those who understand the depicted realities. Overall impression: 70%. (18/10/2007)